“Aligning” with Nature's Spectacle: The Solar Eclipse
Eclipse: That is the big news for the first part of April. If you are reading this after April 8, it is old news and you only realize ‘we told you so’. If you are reading this before April 8, you must take it all seriously. It is one of the most important events of your lifetime, and you definitely have not seen one before, and you most definitely will not see one again. We are fortunate to be in the path of a ‘total eclipse’ and while many people travel long distances for this experience, we have the opportunity in our own backyard!
If you plan not to watch it, please think again and give serious consideration to your decisions. If you plan to watch it, you must plan ahead. What we are describing here is only the briefest information and you must take the time to learn and plan before Monday, April 8. There is a lot of information available, and you know what source is best for you…
Here are Dr. Hubbel’s key takeaways for safe eclipse viewing etiquette:
First of all, this is really a big deal, and many people will be in our area for the viewing. Traffic is expected to be more congested than usual with an influx of visitors to Northumberland County.
Driving may be hazardous… with more congestion, and total darkness. Many cars with automatic running lights do not put on tail lights, so expect the unexpected.
The whole thing begins at 2:07 in the afternoon and ends at 4:30 pm (by whole thing, we mean the sun and moon starting to overlap, or “eclipse’).
The ‘totality’ is at 3:21 and at that time you will experience total darkness, and temperature drop of up to 10 degrees. All of nature will think it is night for those few minutes…..birds will roost, night insects will come out, people will head home from the pub… kidding!
Which brings us to the important point, that we should not kid about this whole thing. It is most important that we take it very seriously and act accordingly.
Most important is the safety of your eyes. Proper glasses are absolutely essential during all phases of the eclipse, except for a very short time when the sun is totally covered. See Dr. Hubbel and Julie modeling their eclipse glasses.
Sun glasses are definitely NOT safe, and make sure the glasses you have are ISO approved… there may be fake glasses available. You will certainly remember this eclipse the rest of your life, especially if you permanently damage your eyes by looking at the sun without proper protection.
Our office will be closed Monday afternoon starting at 2 pm. This will allow everyone to be where they need to be during the eclipse. You really need to plan ahead. Also there will be many people around you who may not have the knowledge you have: Children, people under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or people with a disability who cannot handle their glasses properly or do not realize their importance.